When it comes to metal levelling and stress relief, not all flattening equipment delivers the same results. While smaller flatteners may improve surface flatness, they often lack the power, roller configuration and control systems required to fully remove internal stresses — particularly in thicker materials, high-strength steels or large-format sheets.
At Wrightform, we use the FlatMaster® 88, a large-format roller levelling machine capable of processing material from 0.6 mm up to 60 mm thickness, including high-strength materials (AHSS) and full sheets with cut-outs. This industrial-scale capability provides significant advantages over smaller flattening systems.
Capacity for Heavy Plate & High-Strength Materials
One of the major limitations of smaller machines is material thickness and strength. Many light-duty flatteners struggle with:
- Thick plate
- High-yield materials
- Advanced High-Strength Steels (AHSS)
- Large sheets with complex cut-outs
The FlatMaster® 88 is engineered to handle heavy plate up to 60 mm thick. This means stress-relieving is possible even on structural components and demanding industrial parts — not just light-gauge sheet.
For customers working in construction, automotive, marine or heavy engineering, this capability is critical.
Full Sheet & Large Format Processing
Smaller flatteners are often restricted to individual parts or limited widths. Large-format roller levelling allows entire sheets or plates to be processed efficiently before further fabrication.
Benefits include:
- Consistent flatness across the entire sheet
- Reduced variation between parts cut from the same plate
- Improved nesting accuracy for laser cutting
- Greater production efficiency
Processing whole sheets also ensures stress relief is distributed evenly, rather than corrected locally.
Speed & Throughput
Manual flattening methods can take minutes — or even hours — depending on material thickness and complexity. Smaller mechanical flatteners may also require multiple passes or operator intervention.
The FlatMaster® 88 levels stamped, laser-cut and plasma-cut parts in seconds. The controlled roller levelling process is rapid, repeatable and suitable for high-volume production environments.
For manufacturers, that means:
Improved Downstream Fabrication Performance
Because large-format roller levelling genuinely removes internal stresses, customers see tangible improvements in:
- Laser cutting accuracy
- Weld integrity
- Machining precision
- Coating and finishing consistency
- Reduced part movement during processing
This reduces rework, improves tolerance control and enhances final product quality — particularly in high-specification or safety-critical applications.
Precision Flatness Control
Another major differentiator is integrated flatness measurement. With ARKU’s FlatJack® flatness control system, flatness is automatically measured directly on the leveller.
This provides:
- Objective flatness verification
- Process consistency
- Reduced reliance on manual inspection
- Greater quality assurance for customers
Smaller flatteners rarely include integrated measurement systems, which can make quality control less consistent and more subjective.
Why Large-Format Levelling Matters
Choosing a large-format industrial levelling system over a smaller flattener isn’t just about size — it’s about performance, capability and reliability.
A smaller machine may correct visible unevenness.
A large-format roller leveller like the FlatMaster® 88 produces stress-relieved, dimensionally stable metal ready for precision fabrication.
For customers working with heavy plate, high-strength materials or complex cut parts, that difference directly impacts production efficiency, quality and cost control.
